The security fence which Israel reluctantly decided to build in 2002 is intended to thwart suicide bomb and other attacks on Israeli civilians (see Beyond Images Briefing 73).

In the years before and after the decision to build the fence, 24 suicide bombings took place in Jerusalem , killing 249 Israelis, injuring hundreds more, and traumatising thousands (see Beyond Images Briefing 160). In addition there have been many other attacks in the city, including shootings, stabbings and kidnappings.

The attackers have been Palestinians from towns and villages in the West Bank, including Bethlehem , Nablus and Jenin. The peak years for these attacks were 1996-7, and 2002-3.

Since 2003 the number of attacks has dramatically reduced. Most Israelis attribute this to the security fence. Even the leader of Palestinian Islamic Jihad has admitted that the fence is an “obstacle” and “if it were not there the situation would be entirely different….” (see the quote in Beyond Images Briefing 187).

A perspective on these attacks: comparisons with six world cities

To provide perspective on these attacks we have calculated what the equivalent number of attacks and casualties would be in six major world cities. Population figures for these cities are from authoritative sources cited on Wikipedia. We have used 730,000 as the population of Jerusalem , again taken from Wikipedia.

New York

16 million (in metropolitan area; 21.9 times larger population than Jerusalem )
Equivalent number of casualties would be…. 5457
Equivalent number of bombings would be… 526

London

12 million (in metropolitan area; 16.4 times larger population than Jerusalem )
Equivalent number of casualties would be…. 4083
Equivalent number of bombings would be…. 394

Berlin

3.5 million (4.8 times larger than Jerusalem )
Equivalent number of casualties would be…. 1195
Equivalent number of bombings would be…. 115

Paris

9.5 million (in metropolitan area, 13.1 times larger than Jerusalem )
Equivalent number of casualties would be….. 3262
Equivalent number of bombings would be…. 314

Melbourne

3.7 million (5.1 times larger than Jerusalem )
Equivalent number of casualties would be…. 1269
Equivalent number of bombings would be… 122

Johannesburg

3.0 million (4.1 times larger than Jerusalem )
Equivalent number of casualties would be… 1021
Equivalent number of bombings - 98

Comments: In the 7/7 Tube attacks in central London in 2005, 52 people lost their lives. The suicide bombings which the citizens of Jerusalem have experienced represent the equivalent of 78 such attacks, in terms of the equivalent number of casualties. The figures for the six world cities above demonstrate the context for Israel 's decision to build the fence around the city.